
Business Document
1. Overview
The Short URL Application provides users with a simple way to shorten long URLs while offering comprehensive analytics on link usage. The platform aims to cater to businesses, marketers, and individuals who need trackable, efficient link-sharing solutions. Users can create short links that are easy to share and track their performance using an intuitive dashboard.
2. Objectives
- Provide a reliable and efficient URL shortening service.
- Offer real-time analytics and insights on link performance.
- Ensure security measures such as expiration dates, password protection, and user authentication.
- Enable API integrations for developers and businesses.
- Monetization through premium plans and ads.
- Make link management simple and accessible for non-technical users.
3. Target Audience
- Digital marketers and advertisers: Track and measure marketing campaign success.
- Businesses needing branded short links: Improve brand visibility and credibility.
- Social media influencers and content creators: Share short, memorable links.
- Developers and enterprises requiring API-based URL shortening: Integrate link management into their applications.
- General users: Individuals who want to manage and track personal links effectively.
4. Key Features
- Easy-to-Use Interface: A simple web-based platform for creating and managing short links.
- URL Shortening: Generate short, user-friendly URLs with a single click.
- Analytics Dashboard: Track clicks, geolocation, referrers, and devices.
- User Authentication: Allow users to manage their URLs with a secure login.
- Custom Short Links: Enable branded URLs for business and personal branding.
- Expiration & Security: Set expiration dates, passwords, and domain whitelisting to ensure security.
- API Access: Provide an API for developers to integrate the service into their applications.
- QR Code Generation: Automatically generate QR codes for short links for easier offline sharing.
5. Revenue Model
- Freemium Model: Free users get basic features, while premium users get enhanced analytics and custom branding.
- API Subscription: Charge for API access based on usage tiers.
- Advertising: Display non-intrusive ads for free-tier users.
- Enterprise Solutions: Offer white-label solutions to businesses.
6. Benefits for Non-Technical Users
- No Coding Required: The service is designed for everyone, regardless of technical knowledge.
- Simple Dashboard: Easily track link performance with user-friendly charts and reports.
- Instant Link Shortening: Just paste a long URL and get a short one instantly.
- Security Features: Set passwords and expiration dates without needing technical setup.
- Mobile-Friendly: Manage and track links from any device.
Technical Document
1. Architecture
- Frontend: Angular (or React) for a responsive web UI.
- Backend: Spring Boot (Java) for API development.
- Database: MySQL/PostgreSQL for data storage.
- Cache: Redis for fast URL resolution.
- Hosting: AWS (ECS Fargate for scalable deployment).
- Security: Keycloak for authentication and role-based access.
2. Database Schema
- Users Table: Stores user details.
- URLs Table:
id
(Primary Key)original_url
short_code
user_id
created_at
,expiration_date
- Analytics Table:
id
,url_id
,click_timestamp
,referrer
,ip_address
,geo_location
,device_type
3. API Endpoints
POST /shorten
→ Shorten a URLGET /{short_code}
→ Redirect to the original URLGET /analytics/{short_code}
→ Get analytics for a short URLDELETE /delete/{short_code}
→ Delete a URL (authorized users only)
4. Security & Performance
- Rate Limiting: Prevent abuse with API throttling.
- JWT Authentication: Secure user sessions.
- Data Encryption: Encrypt stored URLs and sensitive data.
- CDN & Caching: Use CloudFront for faster content delivery.
- Logging & Monitoring: Use AWS CloudWatch for logs and alerts.
5. Deployment Strategy
- CI/CD: Automate builds and deployments using Drone CI.
- Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Use Terraform for infrastructure management.
- Containerization: Deploy backend services using Docker & ECS Fargate.
- Blue-Green Deployment: Ensure zero-downtime updates.